Skip to main content

New Child Safety Seat Law Effective June 30th

Maryland's new child safety seat law goes into effect on June 30, 2008. The new law requires that all children younger than eight years of age be secured in a federally approved child safety seat* according to the safety seat and vehicle manufacturers' instructions, unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches or taller, or weighs more than 65 pounds. The child restraint must be right for the child's size, age, and weight.

*Child safety seats include: infant seats, convertible seats, forward-facing seats, booster seats, or other safety devices federally approved for use by children in motor vehicles.

A person may not transport a child younger than 16 years of age unless the child is secured in a child safety seat or a vehicle's seat belt.

A child younger than 16 years may not ride in an unenclosed cargo bed of a pick-up truck.

A vehicle can be stopped and the driver issued a citation for a violation of these laws. Currently the fines for failing to buckle up children and for allowing a child to ride in an unenclosed cargo truck bed are $48 and $50, respectively.

Please remember that it is very important that all children be properly secured in child safety seats and/or seat belts. The safest location in a car to buckle-up a child is in the middle of the rear seat.

Buckle up our children - follow our law!

Questions? Call Maryland Kids in Safety Seats at 1-800-370-SEAT or Maryland State Highway Administration at (410) 787-4077.

Please click on the link below for answers to many frequently asked questions regarding Maryland's seat belt laws, child safety seat laws, and recommended practices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Passenger Safety, Seat Belts, and Maryland's Laws

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Police Report: June 9-10

June 9th : 2500 block of Allison Street : At about 1 pm officers took a report of a citizen robbery . The victim told the officers and PGPD robbery detectives that she arrived to meet a client when she was approached by two black males. One of the men approached her from the front; the second came up behind her and placed her in a head lock. The second man demanded the keys to her gold 2005 Honda Accord (MD tags 9FA Y36). The victim complied and the two got into her car and fled the scene. The victim described her assailants as black males about 19-20 years of age. The first man was about 5’8” tall with shoulder length dreadlocks and was wearing a white t-shirt, long jean shorts, white socks and tennis shoes. The second man was about 5’10” tall, also had shoulder length dreadlocks and was wearing a white navy hat. The officers also discovered a white 2004 Chevrolet Express van that is believed to have been driven to the scene by the two suspects. A check of the vehicle’s registration...
Post a Comment
Read more

Police Report: May 8-11

Friday May 8th : 3400 block of 11 Newton Street : At about 2 pm officers responded for the report of a woman who had been assaulted by her boyfriend. The boyfriend allegedly punched the woman in the mouth and choked her. She told the officers that she did not want any police assistance and refused to tell the officers what had occurred. She was referred to the District Court Commissioner if she decided to press charges at a later time. Saturday May 9th : Nothing significant to report. Sunday May 10th : 4500 block of Eastern Avenue (BP station) : At about 11 am officers responded for the report of a stolen auto. The officers met with the victim/owner who told them that he left the keys to his 2002 Lincoln on the front seat when he went inside to pay for gas. When he came out of the store he saw his Lincoln being driven up Eastern Avenue towards Rhode Island Avenue by a black male (no further description). A check of the area for the stolen car proved negative and a lookout for it was gi...
5 comments
Read more

Police Report: August 19-25

August 25 th : 3300 block of Chauncey Place : Vehicle impound – 12:45pm. Officers patrolling with a mobile license plate reader received a notification that the tags on a Mazda were suspended. However, the tags were displayed on a 2003 Dodge Durango. The Dodge was unregistered so it was impounded and the tags were seized for return to MVA. 4000 block of 34 th Street : Trespassing – 2:05pm. Officers responded for the report of a disorderly subject at ZZ Pizza. When the officers arrived they detained the highly intoxicated subject and learned that he had entered the restaurant and demanded food. They also learned that the owners had previously banned him from the restaurant. He was arrested, charged with trespassing and delivered to the custody of DOC in Upper Marlboro. 3200 block of Queenstown Drive : Traffic/vehicle impound – 9:50pm. Officers stopped a 1999 Honda Accord for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the driver did not have a driver...
2 comments
Read more